Spreadsheets

This week I learned how I could incorporate spreadsheets into my future "classroom." I have always enjoyed using spreadsheets (my dad is FANATICAL about them!) I really love how a simple equation can do so much so fast in Excel. You can type it in one time and then just drag it down a whole column.

Thinking of ways to use spreadsheets with my students was a little tough for me. I tried to think of ways that spreadsheets would really help them master their goals, and I couldn't. But, spreadsheets are an invaluable tool for behavior therapists. Behavior analysis is essentially data-based decision making. You take data on a behavior, which is anything that is observable and measurable, and then you take that data to develop or modify behavior plans and goals. Without data, ABA is nothing. But, you also have to look at that data and make decisions using that data. Spreadsheets are an easy way to chart and graph data, and I have used them many times in my ABA experience.

Here is my Google Docs spreadsheet.

Making Movies!

This week was the first time I had ever used Movie Maker, and I was quite apprehensive about using the software. It did take me a while to get familiar with it, and I had quite a few problems converting my media into files that Movie Maker accepted. I think the hardest part for me was figuring out to convert the video shots I took into a file that was compatible, and I ended up having to purchase something to convert my files.

My movie is about making friends. As I mentioned before, one of the hardest things for someone on the autism spectrum to do is to create meaningful relationships and friendships with people, and keeping those friendships. Originally, I wanted to make a movie that modeled for children with autism how to make friends, but I had a tough time finding kids that could be in the movie. I think that before I would use this with one of my clients, I would get more footage of actual people making friends to make it more meaningful for the child. A lot of children with autism need to be shown how to do something, not just told.

In my movie, I incorporated some of my original photos of my friends and some students I know. I also shot footage of a friend and her brother answering the EQ's I asked, which were "What is a friend?" and "How do we make friends?" I also used a video that I found on YouTube that a teacher had make for his class on the meaning of friendship. The song I used is very calm, yet still upbeat, and it is called "Din Din Wo" by Muso Ko. All in all, this was a very tough assignment for me, and I think I need more time to immerse myself in Movie Maker, as well as learn how to convert files, pictures, and video into compatible files. Here it is!

Planning to Make a Movie

This week I decided that a good movie to make for my students with autism would be a video about social interaction. I think that making a movie about how to interact with others would be helpful for students with autsim. I could show them a movie about social interactions before we went out to a park, or for the kids in school, out to recess.

For my movie, I plan on using the 7 elements of digital storytelling in the following ways. First, I plan on having my movie illustrate the point of view of my students. I want them to feel that the person in the movie could be them so they will be more likely to imitate the actions. For my dramatic question, I will be asking, "How do we make friends?" For the majority of people on the spectrum, making and keeping friends is one of the hardest skill to master. I will be using the gift of my voice, and I will ask questions and talk, while leaving meaningful pauses for the student to reflect. I am still searching for the perfect soundtrack that will compliment my movie, but not over power it. I will also not overload this movie in order to not overwhelm my students with autism. This is a common problem for these students, especially with "verbal clutter." It is sometimes compared to Charlie Brown's teacher (WA WA WA) when people with autism are bombarded with too much information, and they simply cannot process it. This deals with the economy and pacing of my movie. Here is my storyboard for my movie and my lesson plan for my movie.